Fashion is getting a fabulous, eco-conscious makeover, and it’s happening right here in Gqeberha. The Glad Rags initiative is calling on locals to raid their cupboards and donate unwanted textiles for a bold upcycled fashion challenge that’s all about turning waste into wearable art.
In partnership with Walmer Park Shopping Centre and GFI Art Gallery, Glad Rags is inviting the city’s top designers to transform discarded fabric into haute couture creations for prominent local personalities. These one-of-a-kind looks will be showcased at a glamorous private reveal at the GFI Gallery on 31 July, followed by a dazzling public fashion show at Walmer Park on 2 August 2025—a highlight of the centre’s Women’s Month celebration.
But it’s not just the pros stepping into the spotlight. Each designer will also mentor a rising local talent, guiding them in crafting trendy daywear from the same pool of donated fabrics. This mentorship gives emerging designers a platform to shine while proving that creativity and sustainability go hand in hand.
“We’re inviting people to donate clean, reusable fabric items and offcuts,” says Denise Roodt, Founder and Executive Director of Glad Rags and the visionary behind The Media Workshop Film and Television School in Gqeberha.
“This project is about pushing creative boundaries while rethinking how we treat our resources. Waste doesn’t have to be the end of the story—it can be the beginning of something truly beautiful.”
After the final looks hit the runway, remaining fabrics will be used by local charities to craft limited-edition Glad Rags tote bags, available for purchase at the fashion show—proving once again that in Gqeberha, sustainability is always in style.
And the entire journey—from fabric pile to final runway strut—will be captured by The Media Workshop in a behind-the-scenes documentary-style series, giving viewers a front-row seat to the magic, mess, and creative brilliance that define this unique initiative.
How to Donate
Drop off clean, reusable textiles and fabric offcuts at the Walmer Park Shopping Centre Information Desk from Friday, 11 April until Saturday, 31 May 2025.
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